Banjo



(No'Model.)

S. GIB'FBIS.-

. BANJO. No. 312,457. E. Patented Peb. 17,1885.

.7' M INVENTOR.

l, WITNESSES I ATTORNEYS.l y

UNITED STATES PATENT Drricn.

SAMUEL GlBBS, OF KNOX, PENN "LVANLLM BANJO.

Application tiled October il, 18S-1.

T all whom it may concern:

Beit k nown that l, SAMUEL Grups, of Knox, inthe county ot' Clarion and State ol" Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useA ful Improvements in Banjos; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description ofthe invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. ret'- erence being had to the accompanying drawings, which forni a part of this specilication, and in which- Figure l is a rear view of a banjo with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vert-ical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line .r a; in Figs. l and 2, and Fig. 4 is a detail view.

The same letters ret'er to the same part-s in all the tigures.

This invention relates to that class of musicalinstruments which are known as banjos; l and it has for its object to provide a device for adjusting the straining-hoop in the same, which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency, and in which all the brackets may be operated simultaneously for the purpose of adjusting the straininghoop by the action of a single thumb-nut. v

Vith these ends in view,the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A designates the band or body ofthe banjo. B is the head, and C is the straining-hoop. All of these parts are in the main of ordinary eonstruction.

D D designate the brackets, which consist of hat metal strips, the upper ends ot' which are bent, so as to form small sharp-edged hooks E. adapted to catch over the upper edge ot' the straining-hoop, while their lower ends are likewise provided with inturned hooks F, directly above which shallow recesses G are formed in the inner sides ot' the said brackets.

The lower end or edge of the body orband A is provided with an annular wire ring, H, inserted or embedded therein in any suitable part of Letters Patent No. 312,@52", dated February 17,1885.

(No modeljl manner, and forming the fulcrum for a series ot' radial levers, l l, which are provided near their outer ends with recesses or concavities J, by which they are seated upon the said ring. rEhe outer ends of the said levers are provided with down-turned hooks l, engaging the hooks F ot' the brackets; and the outer ends of the said levers are provided on their upper sides with projections or studs L, engaging the recesses G in the brackets. so as to prevent lateral displacement of the latter. Lateral displacement ot' the outer ends ot` the levers is prevented by providing the lower edge of the band or body A with a series of not ches, M, in which the said levers are seated.

The body A ot' the banjo is provided with a longitudinal arched brace, N, having a centrally-located downwardly-extending screw, O, provided with a washer, P, and a thumbnut, Q. rlhe inner ends of the levers I l are made tapering or pointed, as shown, and inserted over the washer l?. lt will thus be seen that by tightening the thumlrnut Q the en tire set oi' levers are simultaneously operated to force the brackets D in downward direction, thus straining or tightening the head ot' the banjo. By loosening the thumlrnut the result is of course reversed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages otthis invention will bereadily understood. The construction is simple and inexpensive, and at the same time admits of handsome ornamentation. This device is much stronger and more durable than the straining devices ordinarily employed, and it is easily, quickly, and convenientlyopcrated. v

.Having thus described my invcntion,l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot' the United States-4 1. In a banjo, the combination of the straining-hoop, aseries of brackets hooked over the said hoop, and having hooks at their lower ends, a series ot' .levers tulcrumed uponthe lower edge ol' thebanjo-body,and having hooks engaging the hooks at the lower ends of the brackets, and mechanism Vfor operating the said levers simultaneously, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. 'In a banjo, the combination, with the IOO body having a inetallic wire or band einbedded or arranged at its lower edge, of a series of levers fulcruined upon the said wire or band, and having hooks at their outer ends engaging the straining-hoop brack ets,and mechanism for operating the said levers simultaneously, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a banjo, the combination of the brackets, suitably connected with the straining-hoop, and provided at theirlower ends with recesses or depressions and inturned hooks, with the levers fulcrunied upon the lower edge of the banjo-body, and having hooks and studs engaging the hooks and recesses of the brackets, and mechanism for simultaneously operating the said levers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a banjo, the combination of the body having a series of notches at its lower edge, and provided with a metallic ring or band, levers seated in the said notches, and fulcrunied upon the said metallic ring, straining-brackets suitably connected with the outer ends or" the said levers, and mechanism for simultaneously operating the inner ends of the latter, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a banjo, the combination of the body having a longitudinal arched brace provided with a screw having a washer and thuinbAnut, the straining-hoop, a series ot' hooked brackets adjusted over the said hoop, and a series of levers fulcrunied upon the lower edge ofthe banjo-body, and having hooks at their outer ends engaging hooks at the lower ends ol the brackets, and having their inner ends inserted or adjusted under the thumb-nut and washer, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony that I claini the foregoing as niy own I have hereunto affixed iny signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL GlBBS.

Wvitnesses:

J. L. SHANAR, Janus G. Wnoknnrv. 

